U.S. patent application number 12/648916 was filed with the patent office on 2011-04-28 for multimedia system.
This patent application is currently assigned to GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Min-Yu CHOU, Li-Chih HSIEH, Cheng-Hao HUANG, Chun-Kun LAN, Yih-Neng LIN, Mou-Ming MA.
Application Number | 20110099315 12/648916 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41596122 |
Filed Date | 2011-04-28 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110099315 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
MA; Mou-Ming ; et
al. |
April 28, 2011 |
MULTIMEDIA SYSTEM
Abstract
A multimedia system includes a portable device, a multimedia
expansion apparatus and a second display. The portable device
further includes a main body and a first display coupling with the
main body, in which the main body has a first multimedia module and
a switch module. The multimedia further includes an expansion port
for coupling the portable device, a multimedia switch circuit, a
plurality of signal output ports and a power control circuit for
energizing the expansion port, the multimedia switch circuit and
the signal output ports. The second display is coupled with one of
the signal output ports. The switch module forwards a multimedia
signal of the main body to one of the first multimedia module and
the multimedia switch circuit, and the power control circuit is to
terminate power output to while the portable device is separated
from the expansion port of the multimedia expansion apparatus.
Inventors: |
MA; Mou-Ming; (Taipei,
TW) ; HSIEH; Li-Chih; (Taipei, TW) ; CHOU;
Min-Yu; (Taipei, TW) ; LIN; Yih-Neng; (Taipei,
TW) ; LAN; Chun-Kun; (Taipei, TW) ; HUANG;
Cheng-Hao; (Taipei, TW) |
Assignee: |
GIGA-BYTE TECHNOLOGY CO.,
LTD.
Taipei
TW
|
Family ID: |
41596122 |
Appl. No.: |
12/648916 |
Filed: |
December 29, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
710/302 ;
710/300; 713/310 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06F 3/14 20130101; G06F
3/1438 20130101; G06F 1/1632 20130101; G06F 1/325 20130101; Y02D
10/174 20180101; Y02D 10/00 20180101; G06F 1/3212 20130101; G06F
1/26 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
710/302 ;
713/310; 710/300 |
International
Class: |
G06F 13/00 20060101
G06F013/00; G06F 1/26 20060101 G06F001/26 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 22, 2009 |
TW |
098135748 |
Claims
1. A multimedia system, comprising: a portable device, having a
main body and a first display coupling with the main body, the main
body further having a first multimedia module and a switch module;
a multimedia expansion apparatus, having an expansion port for
coupling the portable device, a multimedia switch circuit, a
plurality of signal output ports and a power control circuit, the
multimedia switch circuit coupling with a second multimedia module
and a repetitive controller, the power control circuit being to
energize the expansion port, the multimedia switch circuit and the
signal output ports; and a second display coupled with one of the
signal output ports of the multimedia expansion apparatus; wherein
the switch module forwards a multimedia signal of the main body to
one of the first multimedia module and the multimedia switch
circuit, and then the multimedia switch circuit determines
optionally to couple the second multimedia module and/or the
repetitive controller; wherein the power control circuit is to
terminate power output while the portable device is separated from
the expansion port of the multimedia expansion apparatus.
2. The multimedia system according to claim 1, wherein said first
multimedia module further has a built-in display chipset and a
built-in sound chipset.
3. The multimedia system according to claim 1, wherein said second
multimedia module further has a display card and a sound card, both
for coupling said multimedia switch circuit in a hot-plugging
manner.
4. The multimedia system according to claim 1, wherein said
multimedia switch module is a PCI Express interface.
5. The multimedia system according to claim 1, wherein said
multimedia expansion apparatus further includes an ON/OFF button
for controlling on/off of said portable device.
6. The multimedia system according to claim 1, wherein said
portable device further includes a battery and a plurality of LED
indicators for revealing the battery volume, and said multimedia
expansion apparatus further includes a power-monitoring button for
detecting the battery volume.
7. A multimedia system, comprising: a portable device, having a
main body and a first display coupling with the main body, the main
body further having a first multimedia module and a switch module;
a multimedia expansion apparatus, having an expansion port for
coupling the portable device, a multimedia switch circuit, a
plurality of signal output ports and a power control circuit, the
power control circuit being to energize the expansion port, the
multimedia switch circuit and the signal output ports; and a second
display coupled with one of the signal output ports of the
multimedia expansion apparatus; wherein the switch module forwards
a multimedia signal of the main body to one of the first multimedia
module and the multimedia switch circuit, and the power control
circuit is to terminate power while the portable device is
separated from the expansion port of the multimedia expansion
apparatus.
8. The multimedia system according to claim 7, wherein said first
multimedia module further has a built-in display chipset and a
built-in sound chipset.
9. The multimedia system according to claim 7, wherein said
multimedia expansion apparatus further includes a second multimedia
module coupled with said multimedia switch circuit.
10. The multimedia system according to claim 9, wherein said second
multimedia module further has a display card and a sound card, both
for coupling said multimedia switch circuit in a hot-plugging
manner.
11. The multimedia system according to claim 7, wherein said
multimedia expansion apparatus further includes a repetitive
controller coupled with said multimedia switch module.
12. The multimedia system according to claim 7, wherein said
multimedia switch circuit is a PCI Express interface.
13. The multimedia system according to claim 7, wherein said
multimedia expansion apparatus further includes an ON/OFF button
for controlling on/off of said portable device.
14. The multimedia system according to claim 7, wherein said
portable device further includes a battery and a plurality of LED
indicators for revealing the battery volume, and said multimedia
expansion apparatus further includes a power-monitoring button for
detecting the battery volume.
Description
[0001] This application claims the benefit of Taiwan Patent
Application Serial No. 098135748, filed Oct. 22, 2009, the subject
matter of which is incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] (1) Field of the Invention
[0003] The invention relates to a multimedia system, and more
particularly to the multimedia system that is portable and
expandable.
[0004] (2) Description of the Prior Art
[0005] The portable device featured in size and portability, such
as the notebook computer, is popular in current business world. To
be more compact, most of the components in the portable device
exist in a built-in manner. Those built-in components include the
display chipset, the sound card, and so on. An obvious advantage
obtained from the built-in components is to reduce the size, but to
sacrifice the convenience in replacement, expansion, and/or
upgrading.
[0006] For professionals in computers, 3D-games and/or 3D-drawing,
more advanced hardware for running some specific software is always
needed. However, limited to the built-in components, while a need
of an upgraded hardware is met, the portable device is usually
forced to out-connect another advance portable device or an
expansion so as to execute a desired software.
[0007] Referring now to FIG. 1, a conventional multimedia system 1
consisted of a portable device 11 and a multimedia expansion
apparatus 13 is schematically shown.
[0008] As shown, the portable device 11 includes a main body 110
and a first display 112 coupling electrically with the main body
110. The main body 110 further includes thereinside a first
multimedia module 114, a switch module 116 and a connector 118. The
first multimedia module 114 further has a first display chipset and
a first sound chipset (not shown in the figure). The connector 118
located on a bottom side of the main body 110 is the interface for
connecting the multimedia expansion apparatus 13. The switch module
116 is to determine whether a multimedia signal generated by the
main body 110 is to be forwarded to the first multimedia module 114
or to the multimedia expansion apparatus through the connector
118.
[0009] On the other hand, the multimedia expansion apparatus 13
provides an expansion platform 131 to set the portable device 11
and a connection port 133 on the platform 131 for receiving the
connector 118 of the portable device 11. Further, the multimedia
expansion apparatus 13 also provides various output ports 135, such
as USB, RS232, IEEE1394 and PS2 connection ports, at a lateral side
thereof to connect electrically and externally with a second
display 139 through an appropriate cable. The multimedia expansion
apparatus 13 is externally powered through a power cable 137.
[0010] Inside the multimedia expansion apparatus 13, a second
multimedia module 132 and a power supply 134 are built in. The
second multimedia module 132 includes further a second display card
and a second sound card (not shown in the figure). The power supply
134 connected further to the power cable 137 is to energize the
second multimedia module 132, the connection port 133 and the
signal output ports 135.
[0011] Generally, the second multimedia module 132 is more advanced
in functions than the first multimedia module 114, and also the
second display 139 is usually larger than the first display 112.
While the portable device 11 is set on the expansion platform 131
of the multimedia expansion apparatus 13, the multimedia signal of
the main body 110 is sent, through the multimedia module 114, to
the first display 112 by the switch module 116 if the first display
112 is ON, but to be switched to the second display 139 through the
multimedia module 132 if the first display 112 is OFF (namely,
unfolded onto the main body 110).
[0012] Nevertheless, the aforesaid arrangement has the following
shortcomings.
[0013] A. In the art, while the portable device is separated from
the conventional multimedia expansion apparatus, the power supply
continues to energize the second multimedia module, the output
ports and the connection ports. Thus, energy can't be saved while
in this separate state.
[0014] B. The second multimedia module is not a hot-plugging
element. While in need of replacing the display card or sound card,
the corresponding apparatus needs to be shut down firstly, and thus
the replacement is somehow inefficient.
[0015] C. When the multimedia system needs to output the multimedia
signals to the second display, the first display is to unfold on
the main body of the portable device, and thus the power button and
the keypads on the main body are covered by the first display as
well. In this circumstance, the first display needs to be folded
from the main body while in ON/OFF operation of the main body.
[0016] D. When the portable device and the multimedia expansion
apparatus are coupled, the power supply energizes the aforesaid
devices at the same time. However, while the first display unfolds
on top to the main body, the volume of the battery inside the
portable device cannot be monitored by naked eyes.
[0017] Therefore, a multimedia system that can overcome the
foregoing disadvantages is definitely welcome by the skill person
in the art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to
provide a multimedia system that can substantially save the
energy.
[0019] It is another object of the present invention to provide a
multimedia system that is capable of hot plugging.
[0020] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
multimedia system that has an additional ON/OFF button and a
battery-volume detection button.
[0021] In the present invention, the multimedia system includes a
portable device and a multimedia expansion apparatus.
[0022] The portable device includes a main body and a first display
coupled with the main body. The main body has a connector located
at one lateral side thereof, and a first multimedia module and a
switch module both located inside the main body. The first
multimedia module further includes thereinside a display chipset
and a sound chipset.
[0023] The multimedia expansion apparatus has an expansion platform
and an expansion port on the top thereof, and a plurality of signal
output ports on a lateral side thereof. The signal output ports
provide at least one thereof to couple a second display. Inside the
multimedia expansion apparatus, a multimedia switch circuit and a
power control circuit are included. In the case that the portable
device is set on the expansion platform through a connection
between the connector of the portable device and the expansion port
of the multimedia expansion apparatus, the multimedia switch
circuit is coupled with a first multimedia module and a repetitive
controller in a hot-plugging manner, and the power control circuit
is also used to energize the expansion port, the multimedia switch
circuit and the signal output ports. At this time, through the
coupling of the connector and the expansion port, the power control
circuit would energize the portable device as well. In the case
that the portable device is separated from the expansion platform,
the power control circuit terminates the power output, such that
the energy can be substantially saved.
[0024] In the present invention, the second multimedia module
further includes a sound card and a display card.
[0025] Further, the multimedia expansion apparatus includes an
ON/OFF button and a power-monitoring button on a top surface
thereof. The ON/OFF button is used to control the power on/off of
the portable device. The power-monitoring button is used to detect
the power volume of the battery inside the portable device.
[0026] When the first display of the portable device is in a folded
state with respect to the main body, the switch module would
forward the multimedia signals of the main body to the first
multimedia module for further processing, and then the processed
multimedia signals are sent to the first display. On the other
hand, when the first display is in an unfolded state with respect
to the main body, the multimedia signals of the main body would be
switched to the multimedia switch circuit. The multimedia switch
circuit would determine to couple optionally with the second
multimedia module or the repetitive controller.
[0027] In addition, in the case that the first display is unfolded
on the main body, the preset ON/OFF button of the main body would
be shielded by the first display. At this time, the ON/OFF button
on the multimedia expansion apparatus would be introduced to
perform the on/off control of the portable device. Also, the
multimedia expansion apparatus can be used to recharge the portable
device. While in recharging the portable device, upon when the
portable device is in an off state of an unfolded state, the
power-monitoring button of the multimedia expansion apparatus can
be used to monitor the battery volume of the portable device.
Further, the portable device may include a plurality of LED
indicators at a lateral side thereof for revealing the battery
volume of the portable device.
[0028] All these objects are achieved by the multimedia system
described below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0029] The present invention will now be specified with reference
to its preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings, in
which:
[0030] FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a conventional multimedia
system;
[0031] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a preferred multimedia system
in accordance with the present invention;
[0032] FIG. 3A shows an operational state of the preferred
multimedia system of FIG. 2, in which the portable device is in a
folded state; and
[0033] FIG. 3B shows another operational state of the preferred
multimedia system of FIG. 2, in which the portable device is in an
unfolded state.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0034] The invention disclosed herein is directed to a multimedia
system. In the following description, numerous details are set
forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present
invention. It will be appreciated by one skilled in the art that
variations of these specific details are possible while still
achieving the results of the present invention. In other instance,
well-known components are not described in detail in order not to
unnecessarily obscure the present invention.
[0035] Referring now to FIG. 2, a block diagram of a preferred
multimedia system 2 in accordance with the present invention is
shown. The multimedia system 2 includes a portable device 21 and a
multimedia expansion apparatus 23, in which the portable device 21
can be a notebook computer or any other mobile computing apparatus.
The multimedia expansion apparatus 23, electrically coupled with
the portable device 21, is introduced to enhance multimedia
performance of the portable device 21.
[0036] As shown, the portable device 21 further has a main body 211
and a first display 213. The main body 211, coupled with the first
display 213, further includes a connector 215 located at a lower
lateral side thereof. Inside the main body 211, a first multimedia
module 217 and a switch module 219 are built in. The first
multimedia module 217 further includes a display chipset 212 and a
sound chipset 214.
[0037] The multimedia expansion apparatus 23 has an expansion
platform (not shown in the figure) and an expansion port 231 on a
top thereof, and a plurality of signal output ports 232 on a
lateral side thereof. The signal output ports 232 provide at least
one thereof to couple externally a second display 233. Inside the
multimedia expansion apparatus 23, a multimedia switch circuit 234,
a power control circuit 235 and a repetitive controller 237 are
included.
[0038] In the case that the portable device 21 is set on the
expansion platform of the multimedia expansion apparatus 23,
through an electrical engagement of the connector 215 of the
portable device 21 and the expansion port 231 of the multimedia
expansion apparatus 23, multimedia signals generated by the main
body 211 can be sent to the multimedia switch circuit 234. The
multimedia switch circuit 234 may has a PCI Express interface to
couple with a second multimedia module 238 and the repetitive
controller 237 in a hot-plugging manner. In the present invention,
the second multimedia module 238 further includes a sound card 2381
and a display card 2382. The power control circuit 235 is used to
energize the expansion port 231, the multimedia switch circuit 234
and the signal output ports 232. At this time, through the coupling
of the connector 215 and the expansion port 231, the power control
circuit 235 would energize the portable device 21 as well. However,
in the case that the portable device 21 is separated from the
expansion platform of the multimedia expansion apparatus 23, the
power control circuit 235 would terminate the power output, such
that the energy can be substantially saved at the end of the
multimedia expansion apparatus 23.
[0039] Referring now to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B, two operational states
of the preferred multimedia system of FIG. 2 are shown,
respectively; one of which the portable device is in a folded
state, while another of which the portable device is in an unfolded
state. The multimedia expansion apparatus 23 may include an ON/OFF
button 25 and a power-monitoring button 27 on a top surface
thereof. The ON/OFF button 25 provides a user to control the power
on/off of the portable device 21 away from the portable device 32.
The power-monitoring button 27 is used to detect the power volume
of the battery inside the connected portable device 21.
[0040] Referring also to FIG. 2, in the case the first display 213
of the portable device 21 is in a folded state with respect to the
main body 211, the switch module 219 would forward the multimedia
signals of the main body 211 to the first multimedia module 217 for
further processing, and then the processed multimedia signals are
sent to the first display 217. On the other hand, in the case that
the first display 213 is in an unfolded state with respect to the
main body 211, the multimedia signals of the main body 211 would be
switched to the multimedia switch circuit 234. The multimedia
switch circuit 234 would then determine to couple optionally with
the second multimedia module 238 or the repetitive controller 237
for further processing the multimedia signals.
[0041] In the present invention, the multimedia switch circuit 234
may provide an application program in a software manner for the
user to determine whether the multimedia signals are sent to the
second multimedia module 238 or the repetitive controller 237 for
further processing. Alternatively, in a hardware manner, a single
port can also be provided for engaging the second multimedia module
238 or the repetitive controller 237 to further process the
multimedia signals.
[0042] Referring again to FIG. 3B, in the case that the first
display 213 is unfolded on the main body 211, the preset ON/OFF
button of the main body 211 would be shielded by the first display
213. At this time, the ON/OFF button 25 on the multimedia expansion
apparatus 23 would be introduced to perform the on/off control of
the portable device 21. Also, the multimedia expansion apparatus 23
can be used to recharge the portable device 21. While in recharging
the portable device 21, whether the portable device 21 is in an off
state or an unfolded state with the firs display 213 shielding on
top of the main body 211, the power-monitoring button 27 of the
multimedia expansion apparatus 23 can be used to monitor the
battery volume of the portable device 21. Further, the portable
device 21 may include a plurality of LED indicators 29 at an
appropriate side (the upper side as shown for example) thereof for
revealing the battery volume of the portable device 21.
[0043] In the present invention, the switch module 219 may output
the multimedia signals of the main body 211 simultaneously to both
the first multimedia module 217 and the multimedia control circuit
234 for further processing, no matter whether or not the first
display 213 is unfolded on the main body 211.
[0044] By introducing the multimedia system of the present
invention, following advantages can be obviously obtained.
[0045] A. While the portable device is separated from the
conventional multimedia expansion apparatus, the power control
circuit of the multimedia expansion apparatus can terminate the
energy supply to the multimedia control circuit, the output ports
and the connection ports. Thus, energy can be substantially
saved.
[0046] B. The multimedia switch circuit of the present invention is
a hot-plugging element. While in need of replacing the display card
or sound card, the corresponding apparatus needn't to be shut down,
and thus the replacement work can be somehow efficient.
[0047] C. For the addition of a repetitive controller in the
multimedia expansion apparatus of the present invention, the output
of the multimedia signals of the main body can be enhanced, and
thus the signal quality of the system can be further ensured.
[0048] D. With the help of the ON/OFF button at the multimedia
expansion apparatus for controlling on/off of the portable device,
even when the first display is unfolded on the main body of the
portable device, the on/off operation of the portable device can
still be performed.
[0049] E. By introducing the power-monitoring button at the
multimedia expansion apparatus, the battery volume of the portable
device can also be observed no matter whether the portable device
is in the folded state or the unfolded state.
[0050] While the present invention has been particularly shown and
described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be
understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form
and detail may be without departing from the spirit and scope of
the present invention.
* * * * *